The UK Intimate Hygiene and Sanitary Protection Products report identifies consumer attitudes towards the feminine hygiene market, factors for increased usage in intimate hygiene products, and adult incontinence product usage in the UK. This market report covers the market size, market forecast, market segmentation and industry trends for the Intimate Hygiene and Sanitary Protection Products market in the UK.
Despite a falling birth rate, the UK market for intimate hygiene, sanitary protection and incontinence products is in decline. Essential products for many, the total market value fell by £13 million from £484.1 million between 2020 and 2021.
British consumers are bracing themselves for tax rises, increasing energy costs and consumer price inflation which left many struggling to pay for the basics of food, heating and other essentials. This is likely to see a rise in period poverty in the UK with the Bloody Good Period charity noting a six-fold rise in the number of period products it supplied during the pandemic.
In terms of frequency of product purchase, the biggest threat to the category comes from a switch from single use to reusable products. Whilst the initial higher costs of product outlay could boost the market in the short term, a new strategy will be needed to secure repeat sales.
The incontinence market represents the strongest growth opportunity for the market as a result of an ageing population coupled with a rise in health conditions that present strong risk factors for incontinence. Furthermore, bladder weakness occurs among all genders thus creating a larger potential user base in the mid- and longer-term future.
Read on to discover more details or take a look at all of our UK Health and Wellbeing market research
Products: Tampons (applicator and non-applicator, scented tampons, lubricated tampons, reusable sponge tampons), sanitary towels (wings and without wings), reusable sanitary towels, reusable menstrual cups, panty liners.
Brands: Always, Tampaz, Bodyform, Lil-Lets, Carefree, Kotex, Femfresh, Canesbalance, Balance Activ, Canestest, TENA, iD, M&S (Marks & Spencer), Boots the Chemist, Yoni, Natracare, Depend, Bodyform, Attends, Alvita, Essity, Morrison’s, Church & Dwight, Walgreen’s Boots Alliance, Wal-Mart, Sainsbury’s, Bodywise, Superdug, &Sisters, Proctor & Gamble, Dr August Wolff Gmbh & Co, Combe International.
This report, written by Roshida Khanom, a leading analyst in the BPC sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.
The sanitary protection segment of the market continues to struggle to grow its value, although an ageing population and rise in conditions that have strong risk factors for incontinence look favourable for future incontinence product value sales. The impact of single-use products is increasingly front of mind for retailers and consumers alike and is set to create enhanced demand for products that minimise post-use impact on the environment. This will create a new angle for innovation to address hygiene concerns around reusables and (now that pandemic restrictions have lifted), to prioritise out-of-home product use.
Roshida Khanom
Category Director BPC
Mintel is the world’s leading market intelligence agency. We show you how consumers think today and tomorrow. As a trusted partner to industry leaders, we deliver game-changing insights to businesses across the globe, fuelling their marketing and innovation strategies that will shape the future.
Access high-quality market research with every purchase of Mintel’s consumer reports. Here’s what else is included in your report purchase:
From consumer reports to customised growth strategies. We have an option to suit your business requirements.
Find out more£ 5,000 – £ 21,600
Mintel’s 2024-25 Global Outlook on Sustainability: A Consumer Study is designed to help you understand what brands and companies should prioritise in order to educate consumers and ensure...
Find out more£ 495
Feminine Hygiene and Sanitary Protection Products - UK by Mintel Market Sizes provides you with annual year-end market size data, most recently updated in 2023. This market covers...
Find out more£ 2,195
In the UK, 44% of women who experience period pain say where they are in their menstrual cycle impacts the severity of any health issues they have,...
Find out more£ 495
Feminine Hygiene and Sanitary Protection Products - UK by Mintel Market Sizes provides you with annual year-end market size data, most recently updated in 2024. This market covers...
Find out more£ 2,195
Once a prominent topic of discussion, the momentum behind diversity and inclusion appears to have waned, as 52% of UK adults are uncertain...
Find out more£ 2,195
Non-western gifting occasions are an opportunity The increasing diversity in the UK offers BPC brands and retailers a significant opportunity to tap into culturally inclusive gifting by aligning products...
Find out more
We use Mintel Reports, mostly for financial services and ecommerce markets, plus a few retail and technology ones.
As a leading payments provider, we value additional insights into consumer behaviour, opinions and trends that are shaping the many different markets we operate in. Mintel is a very good and very quick way for us to obtain those insights.
We use Mintel to get a view on where a particular market is going, which can support us in product development and help us identify opportunities or indeed risks, it is a very useful barometer of a market’s potential.
At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.
One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.
We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.
We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.
Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.
When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.
The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.
Working in a customer-obsessed organization means that data and insights have to be at our fingertips. Mintel’s reports help us support anecdotes with real quantifiable insights. The summary sections (which I really like) helps save time by giving a birds eye view of the content before spending time combing through the pages.
Our business review discussions are strengthened by the relevancy of the reports to help us better understand our customers. In addition, the customer service received from the team (especially in crunch periods) makes the process of understanding customer behavior even better.
From consumer reports to customised growth strategies. We have an option to suit your business requirements.
Find out more
